Step-ladder.



B. G. FREAS.

STEP LADDER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1a, 1912.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

wibmewao B. G. FREAS.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.18, 1913.

1,074,318. Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QKQw BRAD d. FEELS, 0F BERWICK, PEKNSY STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters retent- Pate'nted Sept. 30, 1913.

Application filed Hareh 1a, 1913. Serial so. 755,11'1.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRAD C. Farms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwick, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to step ladders and has particular reference to a step ladder which is well adapted to be used in apple orchards, or the like.

An important object of this invention is to provide a step ladder of the above mentioned character, having novel connecting or locking means for the pivoted portions or sections thereof, whereby these pivoted portions or sections may be securely held against spreading or outward movement when in thelr normal open position and yet be free to be swung to the inner or folded position and may also be moved outwardly beyond the normal open position and locked in adjustment at different positions therebeond. y A further object of my invention is to provide connecting or locking means of the above mentioned character, which are easy to operate, simple in construction, and

cheap to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of this type of step ladders in general, whereby they are rendered more efiicient, without materially increasing the cost of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanyin drawings, forming a part of this specificatlon and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a front view of the step ladder, Fig.- 2 is a side view of the same, 13" 3 is a' horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the step ladder, Fig. 5 is a vdetail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and, Fig. 6 is a rear side view of the locking means showing the same in its folded condition.

It is well known that in picking apples or the like, the (picker generally uses a step ladder. Step la ders are particularly handy for this work, inasmuch as they enable the p cker toreach the apples orthe like, at different heights, and are readily portable so that they may be moved to the desired position adjacent a tree or from one tree to another. In the ordinary step ladder which is used for this purpose, the forward and rear portions or sections thereof are hinged toget er, and may be swung to two positions to wit, openand closed ositions. As far as I am aware, no means as been provided whereby the portions or sections of the step ladder may be locked in adjustment at a number of open positions beyond the normal open position. It not infrequently happens that the ground is irregular, being hilly or havin an opening or ditch formed therein,- whic cannot be straddled or spanned by the ortions or sections of the ordinary step la der, when the same occupy their open or outermost position. For this reason these step laddershave been found incapable of rendering entirely satisfactory service. A v

In carr ing out my invention, I provide a step lad er comprising forwardand rear portions or" sections which are hinged or pivotally connected at their upper ends, as is customary. Connecting or locking means are carried by or disposed between the forward and rear portions or sections. My in vention particularly resides in the novel construction of this connecting or locking means. is adapted to hold the forward and rear portions or sections against outward or spreading movement, when in their normal open position,- also allowing the same to be readily swung to the closed or collapsed position. The connecting or locking means is so constructed that by proper manipulation of the same, the forward and rear sections or portions may be swung outwardly for a considerable distance beyond their normal open position,- so that the same will straddle or span an opening, hill, or other irregularity or obstruction occurring in the ground. When it is desired to close or collapsethe forward and rear portions of the step ladder, the connecting or locking means is manipulated so that the forward and rear por- This connecting or locking means tions or sections are first returned to their normal open position, subsequently to which the portions or sections may be readily closed or collapsed.

,In constructing my step ladder, the connecting or locking means is made very simple, so that the same will not only be easy to operate but will be cheap to manufacture, whereby the cost of the step ladder equip ed with the same will be a very little more t an the step ladder without the connecting or locking means.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 17 designates the step section of the step ladder, as a whole, and the numeral 8 designates the prop section' of the same. The step section 7 comprises upstanding spaced side bars or rails 9, connected by horizontally spaced superposed steps 10, as shown. The prop section 8 comprises spaced upstanding side bars or rails 11, connected by diagonal rods or braces 12, as shown. Rigidlyconnected with the upper ends of the bars 9 by means of bolts 13 or the like are horizontal side strips or plates 14, having pivotal connection with the upper ends of the bars 11, by means of bolts 15 or the like, as shown. Rigidly connected with the upper end of the bars 9 and the strips or plates 14 is an uppermost step or platform 16, as shown.

The side bars 9 and 11 are preferably made longitudinally extensible and for this purpose the same are provided near their lower ends with feet-17 and 18 respectively, which are longitudinally movably mounted upon the same, as shown. The reciprocatory feet 17 operate within guide brackets 19, securely attached to the lower ends of the bars 9. The reciprocatory feet 18 operate within guide brackets 20, securely attached to the lower ends of the bars 11. Each of the bars 9 and 11 is provided with an outwardly extending bolt 21, rigidly connected therewith,.and passing through an elongated slot 22 formed through the leg, as shown. This bolt carries a clamping thumb nut 23, which may be manipulated to lock the leg in adjustmcnt at desired positions.

I will now proceed to describe the connecting or locking means between the step and prop sections of the step ladder. Disposed upon the inner surface of the side bars 9, preferably midway between the ends thereof, are metallic plates 24, rigidly connected therewith by means of bolts 25 or the like. Each of these plates is provided at its inner end with a horizontal socket 26, which is U-shaped in vertical cross-section, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 27 designates (see more particularly Figs. 3 and 6), inwardly extending arms, having their outer portions 28 extending into the sockets 26, these parts being pivotally connected by bolts 29 or the like. The inner ends of the arms 27 are bent to form parallel extensions 30, between which is disposed a reduced or thin portion 31 of a lockin arm 32. The reduced or thin portion 31 is rigidly connected with the extensions 30 by means of bolts 33 or the like. As more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the locking arm 32 is provided with a longitudinal slot 34, leading at its forward end into a depending opening or notch 35, as shown. The numeral 36 designates forwardly converging arms (see more particularly Figs. 3 and 6) which are pivotally connected with the side bars 11 by means of bolts 37 or the like, preferably disposed midway between the ends of these legs. The forward ends of the arms 36 are bent to form parallel extensions 37, between which is disposed the locking arm 32, as shown. The extensions 37 (see more particularly Fig. 5), are provided with openings 38, for receiving the cylindrical body portion 39 of a winged control bolt 40. The body portion 39 is provided with a reduced screwthreaded extension 41, for receiving a nut 42, which is soldered or otherwise rigidly attached to the adjacent arm 36. Normally the cylindrical body portion 39 of the control bolt 40 fits within the depending opening or notch 35, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. When this is the case, the shoulders 43 are preferably disposed so that they will slidably engage with the outer ends of the extensions 37' of the arms 36, thus tendin to prevent the spreading movement of t e forward and rear portions or sections '7 and 8 of the'ladder, in the event that 0 body portion 39 of the control bolt 4 should move out of the depending opening or notch 35, the inward movement being of course prevented by the body portion 39 of the control bolt engaging the inner wall of the longitudinal slot 34. It is thus seen that the body portion 39 of the control bolt 40 will be held above and adjacent the depending opening or notch 35, so that the same will readily drop therein, when the ladder is being opened or closed.

Attention is called to the fact that the cylindrical body portion 39 of the control bolt 40 is slightly longer than the combined width of the reduced portion 31 of the locking arm 32 and the extensions 37 of the arms 36, whereby when this control bolt is completely screwed up the same will not clamp these parts together but will serve as a free pivot for the same. When it is desired to move the forward and rear portions 7 and 8 apart beyond their normal open position, the control bolt 40 is properly manipulated or unscrewed,.so that the same may be moved upwardly within the inner end of the longitudinal slot 34, subsequently to which the same may be moved longiited to the normal open tudinally and outwardly therein; When this is donethe arms 36 are-moved longitudinally of the locking arms 32, the extensions 37 thereof en ging the same. The body portion 39 of t e control bolt 40 is shorter than the combined thickness of the arm 32 and extensions 37' of the arms 36, whereby the control bolt by being properly screwed up will rigidly lock or clamp these parts together. It is thus seen that means are provided to lock the step and prop sections of the step ladder in adjustment when they are moved outwardly beyond their normal open position.

When it is desired to close or collapse the step ladder, the control bolt 40 is first rotated or manipulated so that the same may be returned to the depending opening or notch 35, subsequently to which the control bolt 40 is again screwed up. When the control bolt occupies this position the step ladder may be readily opened and closed, such opening movement however being limposition, the control bolt 40 positively limiting this opening movement when properly fitting within the depending opening or notch 35 and the shoulders 43 positively limiting such opening movement by engaging the ends of the extensions 37, in case the control bolt 40 should fail to drop within the openings or notches 35. Attention is called to the fact that the sockets 26 have their lower horizontal ends closed and their upper ends open, whereby they permit of the free upward movement of the arms 27 but positively limit the downward movement of the same beyond or below a substantially horizontal position. I

It is believed that in view of the above description, no further explanation of the operation of the apparatus is necessary.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. V

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a step ladder of the character described, step and prop sections pivotally connected near their upper ends, a locking arm having an inner thin portion and an outer thick portion and pivotally connected with one-of said sections, spaced arms pivotally connected with the other section and disposed adjacent and upon opposite sides of the locking arm, and pivot means carried by the spaced arms and serving only as a free pivotal connection between the spaced arms and the locking arm when the spaced arms engage the inner thin portion of the lockingarm and as positive clamping means when the spaced arms engage the thick portion'of the lockin arm.

2. In a step la der of the character described, step and prop sections pivotally connected near their upper ends, a locking arm comprising a relatively thick body portion and a relatively thin extension and provided with a longitudinal slot having a depending notch formed near one end thereof and in free communication therewith, means pivotally connecting the locking arm with one section to swing in a substantially vertical plane, spaced arms pivotally connected with the other section and disposed adjacent and upon opposite sides of the locking arm, and a control bolt passing through the ends of the spaced arms and. the longitudinal slot in the locking arm and having an unscrew-threaded portion longer than the combined width of the spaced arms and the thin extension of the locking arm and shorter than the combined width of the thicker body portion of the locking arm and the spaced arms.

3. In a step ladder of the character described, step and prop sections pivotally connected near their upper ends, a locking arm comprising a relatively thick body portion and a relatively thin extension and provided with a longitudinal slot having a depending notch formed near one end thereof and in free communication therewith, means pivotally connecting the locking arm with one section to swing in a substantially vertical plane, spaced connecting arms pivotally connected with the other section to swing in a substantially vertical plane and disposed adjacent and upon opposite sides of the locking arm, a control bolt passing through the ends of the spaced arms and the longitudinal slot in the locking arm and including a body portion longer than the combined width of the spaced connecting arms and the thin extension of the locking arm and shorter than the combined width of the relatively thick portion'of the locking arm and the spaced connecting arms, a screwthreaded extension connected with the free end of the body portion, and a nut engaging the screw-threaded extension and rigidly attached to one of the spaced connecting arms. v

4. In a step ladder of the character described, step and prop sections pivotally connected near their upper ends, sockets attached to the step section and formed substantially U-shaped in vertical cross-section and substantially horizontally arranged, forward inwardly converging connecting arms having their outer ends pivotally mounted within the sockets, a locking arm rigidly connected with the inner ends of the forward connecting arms and provided with a longitudinal slot having tree communication with a depending notch distudinal slot to connect the rear connecting posed near one end thereof, rear inwardly arms and the locking'arms. v 10 converging connecting arms pivotally con- In testimony whereof I aflix my signanected with the prop section and having ture in presence of two witnesses. v 5 their inner ends disposed adjacent to and BRAD C. FREAS.

upon opposite sides of the lockin arm and Witnesses:

provided with apertures, and a olt pass- A. F. SHARRE'rrs,

ing through the apertures and the longi- Com FENSTEMAKER. 

